Comics, drawings, photographs and pleasantly musty thoughts from British cartoonist John Bagnall.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Derelict Odeon. Out of town cinema multiplexes replaced cinemas long ago in smaller towns. This sorry looking monolith in central Hartlepool was once an Odeon as you will see from the familiar '30s outline and faded ghost-sign. It seems there was an unsuccessful attempt to turn it into an 'American Bar' (see Pool/Snooker sign) and its frontage seems to have been host to a number of shops now abandoned and crumbling. One faint shop fascia which caught my eye was for the Tan Ya Hyde solarium. Not the most classy of shop names in which to top up your George Michael bronzing. The whole building is now in such a state of decrepitude that pigeons have occupied its upper storey and the damp rot is undulating into interesting underground-cavern patterns. Its a safe bet this place will be un-used for a little while longer...